Tales from a German city.

Although it is not considered one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, Cologne definitely has other things going for it.
Firstly, there are the delightful Christmas markets.
Secondly, it is the place where many crucial moments in modern history took place which makes it really interesting.
And thirdly, the people of Cologne are really lovely.
Traveller noticed this on her first night in Cologne. She had just arrived in Cologne after taking six hours to travel from Brussels by train. The journey should take just over an hour but, due to snow, the train was delayed, very crowded and very slow.
Upon arriving in Cologne, Traveller's dear friend, Co, picked her up and they took the tram. On the tram, they were also experiencing delays due to the heavy snow. If this happened in London, an orchestra of irritation would sound; however, in Cologne, the tram-driver started to make jokes and the people in the train were laughing with each other and it felt like they were in no hurry at all.
This attitude was felt all throughout the city during Traveller's time there: people were willing to help you whenever they could and they were all very jolly. This is T's kind of city!
The other lovely part of visiting Cologne was spending time with Co, Traveller's dear friend from many years ago. We had many late night chats, did some serious shopping and even enjoyed a picnic on her bedroom floor.
Traveller learnt one important lesson while she was away - time is nothing between friends. She feels so lucky to have made friends with people from all over the world.

Cologne Christmas Markets.

One of Traveller's favourite parts of her recent holiday was the Christmas markets in Cologne.
Sometimes the lead up to Christmas can be so busy that T hardly has time to garner the Christmas spirit. Not so last year.

The Christmas markets in Cologne, Germany really made Traveller so excited for the festive season. There was glühwein to drink, fairy lights twinkling, pretty trinkets to buy and delicious food to eat {note roasting salmon below!}
The best part?
Traipsing around the markets with a dear friend who was both brilliant company and a shopping partner extraordinaire.{miss you, Co.}

Addiction.

A chocolate addiction is a serious thing.
Traveller honestly can't think of a day when she has gone without chocolate {except for yesterday} in a long, long time.
In fact, one of T's new year resolutions is to eat less of the milky, creamy good stuff and switch to the less creamy, darker kind.{which explains why she didn't eat it yesterday}{she only made her resolutions yesterday}

T digresses...

Right before Christmas and before any such resolutions were made, Traveller visited the Lindt chocolate factory in Cologne, Germany and, let's just say, any building that has a chocolate fountain filled with pure, creamy, delicious Lindt chocolate is alright by her.

The best part?

A Lindt representative hands you a wafer that has been dipped into the afore mentioned fountain.

Needless to say, Traveller visited the obliging wafer lady more than once...

Another factor worth mentioning is that you receive a chocolate on the way in and a chocolate with any drink that you order from their lovely cafe which sits on the Rhine River.

Traveller has a feeling that she won't survive very long without the sweet goodness of Lindt chocolate.

They hand wrap the large chocolate santas. T timed her; it took seven minutes!


Traveller's exchange friend from Switzerland - Yuvia - enjoying the wafer dipped in melted chocolate